Remote control for ice making machines

ABSTRACT

A wireless mobile hand-held secure system for controlling and monitoring ice making machines which is preferably comprised of a single hand-held master selector device that transmits up to eight discrete bits of data to, and receives up to eight discrete bits of data from, one of numerous remote devices using secure data encoded on an RF signal, and a remote device installed in the ice making machine. The remote device electrically detects the operating status of up to eight designated functions of the ice making machine and when requested, transmits the status of said functions to the hand-held master selector device using secure data encoded on an RF signal, and decodes the secure data received from the hand-held master selector device and electrically controls up to eight designated functions of the ice making machine based on the operator supplied input to the wireless mobile hand-held master selector device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for remotely controlling and monitoring ice making machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice making machines are typically leased by a vendor to owners of hotels, taverns, and restaurants. The vendee pays a periodic fee to the vendor, typically monthly, and the vendor is responsible for maintaining the ice making machines in good working order. If a leased ice making machine stops functioning, the vendor will replace or repair the ice making machine. However, the vendor can encounter difficulties with vendees who do not pay in a timely manner. These vendees may react in a hostile manner when the vendor attempts to enter the premises and reclaim the ice making machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for controlling an ice making machine inside a building, room, or business, from outside the building, room, or business, respectively. By remotely controlling the ice machine, an owner, lessor, or maintainer of the machine, may maintain some control over the machine even though it is located where entry is difficult or would cause resistance from the entity leasing or otherwise using the machine. The invented apparatus and methods may include remotely controlling one or more functions of the ice machine, including those which disable ice production, and also may include remotely receiving status information from the machine to confirm the effectiveness of the control.

In preferred embodiments, disabling ice production may be done by controlling the ice bin level indicator to report a full bin even when it is not full, as this should not result in melting ice or in the entity suspecting that someone has interfered with the ice machine. Therefore, the preferred apparatus and methods may result in an apparent ice machine malfunction requiring repair, which may be used as leverage to encourage the user of the machine to become current on an overdue account.

The control and status-monitoring transmissions are preferably wireless transmissions carried by radio waves between a portable master transmitting and receiving device and an ice machine receiver and transmitter, wherein the master device may communicate with a selected ice machine or plurality of ice machines. Selecting and controlling fewer than all of the entity's ice machines, or selecting and controlling different of the entity's ice machines at different times, may help prevent the malfunction from appearing to be from outside interference with the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate several aspects of embodiments of the present invention. The drawings are for the purpose only of illustrating preferred modes of the invention, and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one general embodiment of a monitoring system for ice making machines in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic diagram of a prior art ice making machine before a remote device is installed.

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic diagram of an ice making machine after a remote device is installed.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic of the encoding circuitry wiring in a remote device after it has been installed in an ice making machine.

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic of the decoding circuitry wiring in a remote device installed after it has been installed in an ice making machine.

FIG. 6 shows the input and output circuitry for the preferred user interface for the master selector device.

FIG. 7 shows the preferred security selector for the master selector device.

FIG. 8 shows a preferred truth table for the security selector shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a table showing statuses and functions for an ice making machine.

FIG. 10 shows the controls portion of an ice making machine.

FIG. 11 shows the mechanisms of an ice making machine.

FIG. 12 shows the interface between an ice making machine and the relays and contactors of the preferred remote device.

FIG. 13 shows an ice making machine with a remote device of the preferred embodiment of the invention installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

General Embodiment

The preferred embodiment remotely controls at least one status of an ice making machine by providing a wireless mobile hand-held secure monitoring system, which is comprised of a single hand-held master selector device and a remote device (or receiver device) installed in the ice making machine. The master selector device could be installed in a dashboard or console instead of hand-held. The master selector device allows the operator to transmit control data to a selected ice making machine and receive data from a remote device connected to an ice making machine using secure data encoded on an RF (radio frequency) signal. The remote device, once installed in the ice making machine, decodes the secure data received from the hand-held master selector device, electrically controls functions of the ice making machine based on the received data, electrically detects a status of the ice making machine, and transmits the status to the hand-held master selector device, using secure data encoded on an RF signal.

The master selector device and the receiver device are each coded with two hexadecimal switches, for 256 possible codes 00 to FF. The code is read by both the master selector device and the receiver device. The master selector device and the receiver device must have the same code in order for them to interface with each other, enabling the operator to control and monitor up to 256 ice making machines.

This system enables the vendor to control the ice making machines remotely from off the premises, without the vendee's knowledge. The system also enables the vendor to monitor the ice making machines remotely, ensuring that the desired changes have taken effect. The vendor can turn one or more of the ice making machines off on a vendee who has not paid pursuant to the lease agreement, while outside the building in which the ice making machines are being used. The system can be installed with the remote device inside multiple or all of the leased ice making machines away from view so that, upon repeated non-payments and repeated remote control of ice-making machines to “malfunction”, the vendee does not suspect that it is a single ice making machine that is defective, nor that a master selector device is remotely controlling the ice making machine. In order to prevent the risk of melted ice causing damage to the premises, the system is preferably installed to cause the ice making machine to report that the ice bin is full, even if the ice bin is not full. This will cause the ice making machine to stop making ice. The vendee will then call the vendor, asking for the ice making machine to be repaired. The vendor will agree to repair the ice making machine only upon payment of the amount due. The vendor then purports to repair the ice making machine, but actually changes the status of the ice making machine by use of the system described herein so that the ice making machine no longer reports the ice bin as being full and will once again make ice. This enables the vendor to quickly collect overdue accounts without resistance from the vendees.

The hand-held master selector device is comprised of an operator interface and circuitry for transmitting, receiving, encoding, and decoding data on an RF signal. Using the operator interface, the operator is able to select a particular ice making machine of interest by matching the preset code in the remote device attached to the ice making machine of interest. Using the operator interface, the operator is then able to transmit data to the selected remote device using the RF signal and effectively control any of the output points of the remote device, which in turn affects the controllable conditions, or statuses, of the ice making machine. After the transmission sequence is complete, the operator interface indicates the status of the selected remote device, giving the operator feedback as to the status of the ice making machine. The operator does not have to guess as to whether the transmission was successful and changed the status of the ice making machine to the desired condition.

The remote device installed in the ice making machine is comprised of momentary and/or latching relays, electrical contactors, code selection dials, and circuitry for transmitting, receiving, encoding, and decoding data on an RF signal. During installation into the ice making machine, the electrical momentary and latching relays will be connected so as to electrically control the desired functions of the ice making machine; the electrical contactors will be connected so as to monitor the status of the desired functions of the ice making machine because the status is indicated on the operator interface.

The master selector device initiates an interface cycle with the receiver device. When the code selection dials are set to the desired code and the ice making machine is powered, the remote device will wait for a signal from a hand-held master selector device. The receiver device is constantly in the receive mode. Upon input by an operator on the operator interface, the master selector device is energized in the transmit mode and transmits a first signal to the receiver device, and the receiver device receives the first signal. This first signal can contain up to eight discrete bits of data corresponding to up to eight commands, on or off, corresponding to up to eight functions of the ice making machine. The RF switch of the master selector device then switches the antenna from the radio frequency transmission circuitry to the radio frequency reception circuitry and enables the receive mode.

When the first signal is detected by the receiver device, the decoding circuitry decodes the data and determines the recipient's secure code. If the recipient's secure code matches the selector dials of the remote device, then the remote device responds by activating the appropriate electrical contactors in accordance with the received data. The receiver unit then checks the status of the function that was changed, and the RF switch of the receiver unit switches the antenna of the receiver device from the radio frequency reception circuitry to the radio frequency transmission circuitry and enables the transmit mode. The receiver unit then encodes a second signal which contains up to eight discrete bits of data corresponding to up to eight statuses of the same number of functions, and sends this second signal to the master selector device. After a predetermined time elapses after the receiver unit sends the second signal, the RF switch of the receiver device switches the antenna of the receiver device from the radio frequency transmission circuitry back to the radio frequency reception circuitry and enables the receive mode. The master selector device then decodes the second signal and outputs the status on light-emitting diodes of the operator interface. After a predetermined time elapses after the master selector device sent the first signal, the master selector device turns itself off.

A greater appreciation for the invention will be developed by referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a monitoring and control system for ice making machines according to the general embodiment of the invention. The monitoring system includes a hand-held master selector device 1 which remains in the possession of the operator of the ice making machines, and up to 256 remote devices 3 installed in ice making machines identified as 1-00 to 1-FF; the ice making machines may be installed in, for example, halls of hotels, kitchens of restaurants, or taverns.

The hand-held master selector device 1 is comprised of an operator interface 15 and the mobile RF circuitry 23. The mobile RF circuitry 23 is comprised the following components. The security selector circuitry 20 sets the security code entered on the operator interface 15 for the remote device 3 to be used by both the encoding circuitry 16 and the decoding circuitry 17. The encoding circuitry 16 combines the data from the operator interface 15 and the data from the security selector circuitry 20 for the radio frequency transmission circuitry 18. The radio frequency transmission circuitry 18 interprets and transmits the encoded data from the encoding circuitry 16 to a radio frequency data stream. RF switch 21 switches the antenna 22 between radio frequency reception circuitry 19 and radio frequency transmission circuitry 18, enabling use of a single antenna 22 for efficiently transmitting and receiving radio signals through air.

When the RF switch 21 has switched the antenna 22 to receive mode, the radio frequency reception circuitry 19 receives and interprets the incoming radio frequency data stream and sends the data to the decoding circuitry 17. The decoding circuitry 17 combines the data from the radio frequency reception circuitry 19 and the data from the security selector circuitry 20 for the operator interface 15.

The ice making machines 1-00 to 1-FF are comprised of an ice making machine mechanism and controls 2. The coded remote device 3 is installed onto the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2. The ice making machine mechanism and controls 2 is comprised of equipment and control circuitry capable of controlling the equipment to automatically turn water into ice. Each remote device is comprised of relays 4, encoding circuitry 5, contactors 6, decoding circuitry 7, security selector circuitry 8, radio frequency transmission circuitry 9, radio frequency reception circuitry 10, an RF switch 11, and an antenna 12. The relays 4 are connected to the monitored statuses of the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2; the relays 4 condition the signals for input into the encoding circuitry 5. The encoding circuitry 5 encodes data from the relays 4 and security selector circuitry 8 and sends it to the radio frequency transmission circuitry 9. The radio frequency transmission circuitry 9 transmits encoded data from the encoding circuitry 5 to a radio frequency data stream. The RF switch 11 switches the antenna 12 between radio frequency reception circuitry 10 and radio frequency transmission circuitry 9. The antenna efficiently transmits and receives radio signals through air.

The radio frequency reception circuitry 10 receives the incoming radio frequency data stream and produces data for the decoding circuitry 7. The decoding circuitry 7 combines data from the radio frequency reception circuitry 10 and the security selector circuitry 8 and sends signals to the contactors 6. The security selector circuitry 8 sets the security code for the remote device 3 that is used by both the encoding circuitry 5 and the decoding circuitry 7. The contactors 6 are connected to the functions of the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2, and transfer the functions from the decoding circuitry 7 to the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2.

The ice making machines 1-00 to 1-FF each can be any of the types of known ice making machines such as batch type ice making machines, cell type ice making machines, or continuous ice making machines, or any other type of ice making machine. Regardless of the type of ice making machine 1-00 to 1-FF, the statuses the operator wishes to monitor and the functions the operator wishes to control can be connected electrically to the contactors and relays, thus allowing these statuses and functions of the ice making machine to be transferred electrically to and from the remote device.

FIG. 2 shows an example electrical schematic for the ice making machine before the addition of a remote device 3. STATUS 1 to STATUS 4 are switches, relay or other existing electrical components on the ice making machine which have functions associated with them. RUNG 1 to RUNG 4 shows each STATUS 1 to STATUS 4 and an associated FUNCTION 1 to FUNCTION 4. Each status contact closes to allow power to flow from V to COMMON, energizing the corresponding function.

FIG. 3 shows the example electrical schematic shown in FIG. 2 for the ice making machine after the installation of a remote device 3. RUNG 11 shows that the RELAY 1 is installed in parallel with FUNCTION 1; thus when the STATUS 1 contact closes, power will flow from V through FUNCTION 1 and through RELAY 1 to COMMON, energizing both FUNCTION 1 and RELAY 1. The same phenomenon occurs with RUNG 12. This allows the remote device 3 to monitor the statuses by use of the relays 4. Similarly, RUNG 13 shows that CONTACTOR 1 is installed in parallel with STATUS 3; thus when CONTACTOR 1 closes, power will flow from V through FUNCTION 3 to COMMON energizing FUNCTION 3 regardless of whether the STATUS 3 contact is closed. The same phenomenon occurs with RUNG 14. This allows the remote device 3 to control the functions.

FIG. 4 shows the interaction of the added relays 4 from the remote device 3 shown in FIG. 3 with the encoding circuitry 5 from the remote device 3. When RELAY 1 is energized, the contact of RELAY 1 is closed, completing the circuit between I-0 COM and I-0 +. When RELAY 2 is energized, the contact of RELAY 2 is closed, completing the circuit between I-1 COM and I-1 +. Similarly, for the other points, statuses can complete the circuit between the COM and the + terminal of the encoding circuitry, thus causing the encoding circuitry 5 to send a signal to the radio frequency transmission circuitry 9 that the status is “on.”

FIG. 5 shows the interaction of the added contactors 6 from the remote device 3 shown in FIG. 3 with the decoding circuitry 7 from the remote device 3. When the decoding circuitry 7 decodes the signal received from the radio frequency reception circuitry 10 calling for FUNCTION 3 to be active, the decoding circuitry 7 energizes O-0 + which energizes CONTACTOR 1. When CONTACTOR 1 is energized, the contactor is closed, thus energizing FUNCTION 3. Similarly, when the decoding circuitry 7 decodes the signal received from the radio frequency reception circuitry 10 calling for FUNCTION 4 to be active, the decoding circuitry 7 energizes O-1 + which energizes CONTACTOR 2. When CONTACTOR 2 is energized, the contactor is closed, energizing FUNCTION 4.

In operating the hand-held master selector device 1, the operator uses the operator interface 15 to enter the security code for the ice making machine of interest within range. Commands entered into the operator interface 15 are then combined with the data from the security selector circuitry 20 and encoded for transmission by the encoding circuitry 16. These encoded data are converted to an RF data stream by the radio frequency transmission circuitry 18 and sent out the antenna 22 by way of the RF switch 21. This RF data stream is picked up by all of the antennae 12 of the remote devices 3 within range and transferred through the RF switch 11 to the radio frequency reception circuitry 10 that converts the data for the decoding circuitry 7. The decoding circuitry 7 decodes the data and determines if they match the data received from the security selector 8. If the data match the security selector, then the data are transferred to the contactors 6 which affect the functions of the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2. If the data do not match the security selector, then the RF data stream is ignored because it was not intended for that remote device 3. This secures the communication to the remote devices 3 so that they can be controlled only by master selector devices 1 with the security code. The effect of one or more of these functions on the matching remote device 3 will be to initiate the data transmission cycle back to the hand-held master selector device 1.

The transmission cycle for the remote unit 3 is initiated by the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2 in response to a function that was received from the hand-held master selector device 1. The relays 4 transfer data regarding the statuses of the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2 to the encoding circuitry 5; the encoding circuitry 5 combines the data from the ice making machine and controls 2 with data from the security selector circuitry 8 and encodes these data for transmission. These encoded data are converted to an RF data stream by the radio frequency transmission circuitry 9 and sent out the antenna 12 by way of the RF switch 11. This RF data stream is picked up by the antenna 22 of a hand-held master selector device within range and transferred through the RF switch 21 to the radio frequency reception circuitry 19 that converts the data for the decoding circuitry 17. The decoding circuitry 17 decodes the data and determines if they match the data received from the security selector 20. If the data are deemed to match then data are transferred to the operator interface 15 for display, thus allowing the operator to monitor the statuses of the ice making machine of interest. If the data do not match, then they are ignored, causing the master selector device 1 to ignore signals from sources other than the selected remote device 3, even if the signals are at the same frequency.

Especially Preferred Embodiment

Hereinafter, the especially preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in view of the general embodiment. With regard to FIG. 1, the specifications for the preferred embodiment provide more detailed descriptions of the operator interface 15, the security selector circuitry 20, 8, the radio frequency components 9,10,11,12,18,19,21,22 the functions and statuses of the ice making machine, and the interface between the receiver device 3 and the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2 via the relays 4 and contactors 6.

FIG. 6 depicts a preferred embodiment of the operator interface 15. The operator interface 15 preferably has data entry means, eight single pole single throw momentary switches 21-28 corresponding to the eight controlled functions, and data display means, eight indicator lights (preferably LEDs) 31-38 corresponding to the eight monitored statuses. The data transferred to the encoding circuitry 16 include the statuses of the eight switches 21-28, corresponding to the desired function(s); the data received from the decoding circuitry 17 are displayed on the indicator lights 31-38, which represent the monitored statuses of the ice making machine.

FIG. 7 depicts a preferred embodiment of the security selector circuitry 8, 20, used by both the hand-held master selector device 1 and the remote device 3, designed for eight bits of security. The circuit is comprised of two four-bit switches SW1,SW2, each capable of adjustment to any of eight positions from 0 to F, giving a secure address of 00-FF for 256 secure addresses. This number of addresses enables an operator to control and monitor a plurality of ice making machines within a single premises, and is sufficient for the number of ice making machines that would likely be within range of the hand-held master selector device 1. These 256 addresses would be sufficient to control all of the subject ice making machines: the same address could be used for two different machines as long as they could not both be within range of the hand-held master selector device 1. Thus, more than 256 ice making machines could be controlled and monitored with the same master selector device utilizing 256 addresses. The correlation between position 0-F and the binary output bits from the switches is shown in the truth table of FIG. 8. The two switches shown in FIG. 7 provide the security code for use by the encoding circuitry 5, 16 and decoding circuitry 7, 17 for both the hand-held master selector device 1 and the remote device 3.

The radio frequency components 9,10,11,12,18,19,21,22 may be tuned to radio frequencies up to 1 GHz; frequencies above 300 MHz allow for line-of-sight relaying of the signals. Therefore, frequencies between 300 MHz and 1 GHz are preferred. These frequencies are preferred in order to provide an RF signal that is capable of penetration through standard construction materials such as wood and concrete while staying in an unlicensed, under populated bandwidth. In the preferred embodiment, the frequency of 433 MHz allows the operator to connect to ice making machines in the proximity of 75-150 feet, while using a low power RF transmitter in accordance with FCC regulations.

FIG. 9 depicts the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2 which comprises controls and mechanisms. In the preferred embodiment, the controls are comprised of seven control inputs: a bin full input which causes the machine to cease ice production to keep the ice from overflowing, a transmit status input which causes the machine to transmit its statuses to the hand held master selector device 1 via the remote device 3, a high speed input which causes the machine to produce ice at the fastest rate, a low speed input which causes the machine to produce ice at the slowest rate, twenty-four hour mode input which causes the machine to produce ice twenty-four hours each day, an eight hour mode input which causes the machine to produce ice eight hours each day, and activate machine or compressor on input which activates the machine refrigerant compressor. The control inputs are effectuated by three mechanism functions: an ice making mechanism run function which causes the ice making machine to run and produce ice, a high speed mechanism function which causes the ice making machine to produce ice at the fastest rate, and the freeze mechanism function which activates the refrigerant mechanism of the ice making machine.

FIG. 10 shows the controls portion of the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2, which has five status switches which govern the seven status inputs, seven relays, and seven contacts. The five status switches are an ice bin full switch which closes when the ice bin is full, a transmit status switch which closes when there is a request to transmit data to the hand-held master selector device, a speed select switch with two contact points which select the speed of ice production (high or low), a mode switch with two contact points which select the twenty-four hour mode or eight hour mode, and the activate machine or run switch which activates the ice making machine. In parallel with the controls are the seven relays 4, which are used to transfer the data from the ice making machine to the remote unit 3.

FIG. 11 shows the mechanism portion of the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2. The ice making machine mechanism and controls are connected to the actual mechanisms of the ice making machine in order to control actual operations of the ice making machine. In series with the mechanism portion are three contactors 6, which allow the remote device 3 to control the operation of the ice making machine.

FIG. 12 depicts the ultimate interface between the ice making machine mechanism and controls 2 and the remote device 3. To facilitate this interface, the remote device 3 uses the relays 4 and contactors 6 shown previously in FIGS. 10 and 11. The statuses (ice bin full, transmit, speed, mode, and run) will activate the seven relays 4 and allow the data to be transmitted back to the hand-held master selector device 1. The functions (ice making mechanism run, high speed mechanism, and freeze mechanism) can be activated by the three contactors 6 in accordance with the operator's desires using the hand-held master selector device 1. Other functions and statuses can be connected in a similar manner to allow a more robust control and monitoring system to be implemented.

The preferred embodiment allows an operator to control and monitor ice making machines inside a building within seventy-five feet of the operator, who is generally outside the building, with no physical connection between the master selector device 1 and the ice making machine. The system becomes less effective at distance greater than seventy-five feet, and generally does not work at distances greater than 150 feet. The system will not work when either the master selector device 1 or the receiver device 3 is enclosed in ferrous casing. It is envisioned that the system described herein could be used on other types of equipment that has electrical components, such as vending machines.

Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A process comprising: remotely controlling a function of an ice making machine; wherein the ice making machine is inside a building; and wherein the function of the ice making machine is remotely controlled from outside the building.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said remotely controlling a function comprises disabling ice making machine operation.
 3. The process of claim 2 wherein the ice making machine is leased by an entity with an overdue account.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein said remotely controlling a function comprises transmitting a signal to the ice making machine via radio waves.
 5. The process of claim 1 further comprising monitoring a status of the function by receiving a signal from the ice making machine via radio waves.
 6. The process of claim 2 further comprising monitoring, after said remotely controlling a function, of a status of the function to confirm said disabling has been accomplished.
 7. The process of claim 2 wherein the function is production of ice and controlling the function comprises causing the ice making machine to report that an ice bin is full and thereby to stop producing ice.
 8. The process of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring a status of the function by receiving a signal from the ice making machine via radio waves; wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of ice making mechanism run, high speed mechanism, and freeze mechanism, and controlling the function comprises changing a control input.
 9. The process of claim 6 wherein said controlling and said monitoring are done via signals embedded in radio frequencies below one gigahertz.
 10. The process of claim 9 wherein the signals are embedded in radio frequencies greater than 300 MHz.
 11. The process of claim 3 comprising, after said disabling of ice making machine operation, verifying that the overdue account has been paid and entering the building and controlling said function to enable ice making operation.
 12. The process of claim 2, comprising providing a plurality of said ice making machines leased by the entity, and remotely controlling a function of fewer than all of said plurality to disable ice making machine operation of said fewer than all of the plurality.
 13. The process of claim 12, further comprising, after said controlling to disable ice making machine operation of said fewer than all of said plurality, verifying that the overdue account has been paid, and entering the building and controlling said function to enable ice making operation.
 14. A process of remotely controlling an ice making machine, the process comprising: providing an ice making machine inside a building or a room of an entity leasing said ice making machine, wherein the ice making machine comprises a plurality of controls adapted for operation of the ice making machine and a receiver device in electronic communication with said controls; determining whether said entity has an overdue lease account, and if so, signaling the receiver device, from outside of said building or room, to effect a change in said controls that stops ice production.
 15. The process of claim 14, wherein said signaling the receiver device is done by a remote master device transmitting radio frequencies.
 16. The process of claim 14 wherein the receiver device causes said controls to sustain an ice-bin-full signal and thereby to stop producing ice.
 17. The process of claim 16 wherein, after said receiver device causes said controls to sustain the ice-bin-full signal, the receiver device signals the remote master device with a status confirming the ice-bin-full signal.
 18. A system for controlling an ice making machine comprising: a remote master selector device; a receiver device connected to the ice making machine; wherein the master selector device is configured to send a first signal to the receiver device and receive a second signal from the receiver device; wherein the receiver device is configured to receive the first signal from the master selector device and change a function of the ice making machine based on the first signal; and wherein the receiver device is configured to detect a status of the function and send the status to the master selector device via the second signal; wherein the first signal and second signal are sent via radio waves.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the first and second signals are sent at frequencies below one gigahertz.
 20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first and second signals are sent at frequencies above 300 MHz.
 21. The system of claim 18 wherein the receiver device is configured to cause the ice making machine to stop producing ice because the ice making machine detects that the ice making machine is full.
 22. The system of claim 18 wherein the ice making machine is leased by an entity with an overdue account.
 23. The system of claim 18 further comprising: receiver devices installed on multiple ice making machines; wherein the multiple ice making machines are inside one building or room; and wherein one of the ice making machines is disabled by the system for controlling an ice making machine. 